June 7, 2017
Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) on June 6 restarted its No.3 reactor conducting “pluthermal” power generation at its Takahama nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture in defiance of public opposition to reactivation.
Five reactors are now operating in Japan, including Nos 1 and 2 reactors at the Sendai NPP (Kagoshima) of the Kyushu Electric Power Company, the No.3 reactor at the Ikata NPP (Ehime) of the Shikoku Electric Power Company, and the No.4 reactor at the Takahama NPP.
Similar to the No.4 reactor, the No.3 reactor carries out ‘pluthermal’ power generation, burning mixed uranium and recycled plutonium oxide fuel (MOX). MOX fuel is criticized for its high risk of enabling core meltdown as the control rods that suppress nuclear fission reactions in a reactor are less effective.
At many locations in Fukui, residents protested against the forcible reactivation of the No.3 reactor. They shouted in chorus, “No to the restart of the Takahama NPP!”, “Stand with people in Fukushima to achieve a zero-nuclear Japan!”
A woman from Fukui City who took part in the protest activity near the prefectural gov’t office building said in anger, “It’s not possible to safety dispose spent nuclear fuel. It is irresponsible for the national government to stick to its support of nuclear power generation.”
In Tokyo on the same day, a protest rally was held in front of the Diet members’ office building to protest against the restart of the Takahama NPP No.3 reactor.
A 59-year-old woman participating in the rally said, “The Abe government has not learned any lessons from the Fukushima nuclear accident and continues pushing forward with the reactivation of nuclear reactors. I cannot tolerate the arrogant Abe government that oppresses the weak.”
Past related article:
> Amid popular protests, Takahama NPP No.4 reactor is restarted[May 18, 2017]
Five reactors are now operating in Japan, including Nos 1 and 2 reactors at the Sendai NPP (Kagoshima) of the Kyushu Electric Power Company, the No.3 reactor at the Ikata NPP (Ehime) of the Shikoku Electric Power Company, and the No.4 reactor at the Takahama NPP.
Similar to the No.4 reactor, the No.3 reactor carries out ‘pluthermal’ power generation, burning mixed uranium and recycled plutonium oxide fuel (MOX). MOX fuel is criticized for its high risk of enabling core meltdown as the control rods that suppress nuclear fission reactions in a reactor are less effective.
At many locations in Fukui, residents protested against the forcible reactivation of the No.3 reactor. They shouted in chorus, “No to the restart of the Takahama NPP!”, “Stand with people in Fukushima to achieve a zero-nuclear Japan!”
A woman from Fukui City who took part in the protest activity near the prefectural gov’t office building said in anger, “It’s not possible to safety dispose spent nuclear fuel. It is irresponsible for the national government to stick to its support of nuclear power generation.”
In Tokyo on the same day, a protest rally was held in front of the Diet members’ office building to protest against the restart of the Takahama NPP No.3 reactor.
A 59-year-old woman participating in the rally said, “The Abe government has not learned any lessons from the Fukushima nuclear accident and continues pushing forward with the reactivation of nuclear reactors. I cannot tolerate the arrogant Abe government that oppresses the weak.”
Past related article:
> Amid popular protests, Takahama NPP No.4 reactor is restarted[May 18, 2017]
